The Washington critic., 1887-08-17
THAT FATAL "lH' AGAIN.

have been with the cneinccr OF the III.
fatcd train, which. being behind time
was rushing in from the West at the
rate OF fifty or sixty mites an hour as it
turned upon the sharp curve. The air
brakes proved insufficient to check its
speed, and the distress signals for the
hand brakes came too late to be of
service. The momentum was rrcsist.
ible, and, one after another, cars and
engine flew the track, causing terrific
and almost Unprecedented wreck. Had
the cars been crowded with passengers
the mortality would have been hor
rble.
The accident was undoubtedly occa
stoned by the attempt of the unfortu.
nate engineer TO check his locomotive
too suddenly. But too much fault is
not to be laid at the door of the poor
fellow who has paid with his life the
extreme penalty of any rashness that
may be attributed to him.
The real fault of the calamity lies
with the general management that has
rendered possible such series of dis.
asters as has made the b. and o. branch
leading into the National Capital an
object of terror to the travelling public.
We are confident that we express the
sentiment of every good citizen of
Washington In protesting against the
apparent indifference of rich and
powerful corporation to the constant
dangers with which the handling of Its
trains, right In the heart of great city,
is surrounded, and which have repeat
edly involved q melancholy sacrifice of
human life.
1.-The b. and o. can plead neither
time nor poverty nor lack of shocking
experience TO justify the continued ex-
istenoe of these perils or to excuse what
in the eyes of the community at large
has every appearance Of recklessness
as to its rates of speed, especially
within the limits of the city, concern
ing which there has been long and In.
dignant complaint.
THE CRITIC has no feeling in the
matter, excepting in the interest of the
people. We have no quarrel with the
road or its agents; but we do insist
that there is something seriously at
fault in a system of supervision that
will allow bad state OF affairs to go
on without remedy and cause one of
the great thOrOughfares OF travel, in
and out of Washington to be looked
upon with fear, trembling and sus.
piclon.
There is certainly urgent need for
reform somewhere and at once.
THE Boston HcrdM says of the Ken.
lucky election that its true story
teaches that the dispensation of patron
age does not strengthen party" The
Democrats had verything-their Fed
eral officials were party workers-yet
the result shows falling off in usual
Democratic majorities that may well
cause the leaders to pause and consider
whether the solidity Of the South is
not really in danger of fracture. Our
esteemed contemporary, we fear, makes
an inaccurate diagnosis of the situation.
Many causes may be cited to account
for the narrow margin Of Democratic
success, but were we to press the ques-
tion whether In the absence of all Fed.
eral patronage the Democratic party of
Kentucky would not have been beaten
out OF sight, we well know what the
answer of the Herald would have to be.
A party divided against ITSELF as 1t
would have been, with no countenance
from the Federal Administration. had
been preordained to defeat. 1t was the
patronage of the Administration alone
that saved the Kentucky Democracy
from the consequences of their own
apathy.
The Philadelphia NeUs suggests that
a Government standard of railroad
bridges and road beds is needed, with
which all companies should be required
10 comply. The suggestion Is q good
one, and the fact that 1t would necessi.
tate system of Government inspection
will render 1t none the less popular
If the RAILROADS will not of their owr
option make proper provision for The
safety of travel, some authority supe
rior TO the roads may rightCuly inter
cede, No objection will he made t
the exercise Of paternal power by tn
General Government where the pro,ec
tlon Of human life is concerned.
TIE views of Mr.. c. p. Church o
the Citizens Committee, relative to III
necessity of measures for securing tn
greater safety of railway travel in thi
District, will meet universal concur
renee. II is matter In which every
body is interested-not only our ow
cit2' ms, but the many thousands VIII
are constantly leaving or entering tn
city by rail-and vigorous, praCticl
action should be taken, The presen
condition of things must in some wa
be remedied. The public safety is
paramount consideration,
THE address of the Anti Saloon Re
priblicans of Massachusetts has al
tracted to II number of names prom
inent In Republican politics. Anon
them are Senators Dawes and HoaI
Ex-Governor Long and Edward Everet
Hale. Yet the address 10 after all bu